Blog

James 1:19-20 Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.

Responding to the issues of life! How do we do that? Do we say the first thing that comes to mind?

What can we do when God does not take away our problems in our timing? What can we do when someone else problems affects us?

How do we or how should we respond to these questions regarding every day issues of life? Do we lash out in anger and rage? Do we run away, ignore or deny them and say "for get it, I am not dealing with this anymore? What should we do?

The writer of this text, James who is the half brother of Jesus helps us by giving us some wise advise on how to respond to the issue of life.

James tell us to be (1) swift to hear, (2) slow to speak (3) slow to anger. What does he mean?

What Jame is saying to us is that wecan do all things though Christ who strengthens us. We learn how to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to angerthrough practice of operating in God's Wisdom that is found in God's Word.

God's divine, revelatory help in our learning godly wisdom is the beginning of us learning how to deal with the issues of life.

Therefore, We are with Godly wisdom, we learn how to be slow to speak. quick to hear and slow to anger.

We ALL must learn how to "talk less" and "listen more. We all are guilty of speaking words at times that hurt and not build up.

Proverbs 29:20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Lastly, we are called to be slow to anger. In other words, do not be so quick tempered. Yes, we all get angry, but do not allow ourselves to get to a place of rage. Ephesians 4:26-Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger.

Think things over by allowing what we have heard to process in our mind and spirit. This require quietness of mind and spirit in a quiet place where we can hear from God about the situation.

Today we are called to be wise in our thinking and in our reactions to the issues of life. To do this we must operate in the wisdom of God which is found in the Word of God.

Believe it or not, but we can not fight fire with fire.

People of God are you willing to respond to the issues of life through the wisdom you have learned and continue to learn in the Word of God? If we do, we will have less stress, worry, pain and suffering and we will gain much benefits in doing so.

Let's listen to the benefits of operating in the wisdom of God's Word in Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, if you will receive my words and hide my commandments within you, 2 so that you incline your ear to wisdom,and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry out for knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.6 For the Lord gives wisdom;out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

To sum up what James is saying to us concerning the issues of life and the unexpected up and downs of life, let's listen to Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you. 32 And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

How are we responding to the issue of life? Do we need to change the way we are currently responding to the issues of life? If we could be honest for a moment, we all should answer with a resounding "YES" to this question.

If we are willing, God has the ability to conform us to His likeness through the power of His Word.

People of God, stay connected to God through prayer and His Word and He will help us learn how to be swift to to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.

The goal of being swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger should be at the top of all of our daily to do list for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.

Change is possible for all of us. Stay connected to God and we will see positive results of change in our lives.